Insights - July/August 2017 - 26

INTERMODAL INFORMATION SERVICES NEWS
manually update its records. The SIA automates the process, Shelton said.

'Time Saver'
"Most importantly the SIA is a time
saver," she said, because the historical
record of turn moves in one application is
readily available for reference or statistics,
instead of relying on email history.
"Just administratively shaving off two
minutes per turn by using the SIA instead
of relying on the old email method eases
the workload of each one of our individual
users," she said. The two-minute number
is "very conservative," she added, estimating the actual time savings could be four
or five minutes.
Because the company averages
around 2,500 turn moves per week, even
the conservative two-minute estimate
translates into saving more than 80 hours
a week overall at 11 offices that handle 19
ports and more than 60 inland locations.
That means at least two fewer people are
needed to handle those moves, resulting
in savings for the ocean carrier, she said.
An additional benefit from every motor carriers' standpoint is that the street
turn is sanctioned by the UIIA. Shelton
described that as a "very inviting benefit"
whenever the box is handled by multiple
motor carriers.
"There were some growing pains,
especially with the trucking community,"
the MSC official said. Since September,
there have been multiple enhancements
to the application as MSC and motor carriers alike sought adjustments to improve
workability.

Enhancements Implemented
"We are happy to say IANA has implemented those enhancements. There are
still some minor fine tuning details with
regards to searching and filtering that
could use refinement, but they are more
preferential than essential," Shelton added.
"With the enhancements made, we have
the added improvement of now being able
to re-initiate cancelled or rejected turns
and to filter by Original Interchange Location Name," she explained.
Shelton explained that the changes
requested were on the administrative side
rather than the fundamental operation of
the SIA.

26 Intermodal Insights | July/August 2017

"Now that everyone at MSC and the
motor carriers have become accustomed
to it, it's a very simple, straightforward system to use," Shelton noted.
Hapag-Lloyd and Yang Ming, two
other major ocean carriers, currently
are conducting a pilot test of the SIA in
specific geographic regions. Both lines
said "all seems to be going well" during
the pilot.

Intermodal Interchange
Executive Committee
Oversees Key UIIA Decisions
The Intermodal Interchange Executive
Committee, or IIEC, plays an important
role in the industry by overseeing the
administration of the Uniform Intermodal
Interchange and Facilities Access
Agreement, or UIIA, the standard contract
that governs and sets forth the terms
of how motor carriers and equipment
providers - i.e., ocean and rail carriers,
leasing companies - interchange
containers and chassis.
Because of the IIEC's important role
in maintaining the viability and accuracy
of the UIIA, Intermodal Insights is
offering this look into the workings of the
committee.
The UIIA currently governs over 95
percent of the total equipment interchanges in North America. The IIEC continuously reviews the agreement to ensure that
it addresses new and emerging business
models related to intermodal operations.
The committee consists of nine
members, three from each of the UIIA's
participating modes: motor carrier, rail
and ocean. In addition, there are three alternates appointed for each modal group.
Members are selected by IANA's board
of directors and IANA's president chairs
the IIEC, but has no voting power. The
president is responsible for the oversight
of the day-to-day management of the UIIA
program, is the custodian of the program
and is responsible for providing accurate,
timely information about the IIEC to UIIA
participants.
The IIEC is one of three IANA standing
committees, with the Maintenance &
Repair and Operations Committees functioning as the other two. As examples of
the IIEC's actions, its June 2017 meeting

resulted in proposals to make three modifications to the UIIA. One involves new
requirements for electronic interchange
receipts. The second relates to the clarification of what supporting documentation
is needed for billing when damage occurs
at an automated gate system, or AGS,
while the third covers modifications to the
binding arbitration process. The committee's proposals were disseminated to all
UIIA participants for a 30-day comment
period, after which the IIEC will determine
whether to revise the agreement.

Specific Processes
The administrative procedures of the
UIIA detail the specific processes that
the IIEC uses to administer the agreement. These processes outline how the
committee handles modifications to the
agreement, equipment provider addenda
reviews and requests for interpretations
of the UIIA. A copy of the UIIA including its
administrative procedures can be found
at http://www.uiia.org/assets/documents/
newuiia-Home.pdf.
For example, the committee's responsibility is to review any revisions to equipment providers' addenda. This review
is conducted to ensure that addenda
language is consistent with existing UIIA
provisions. Language that relates to
economic and commercial terms, such as
charges and fees, are outside the committee's scope of work.
IIEC members and alternates must
meet specific qualification requirements.
There are several criteria for applicants.
The individuals' employers must be UIIA
participants. The applicant must have
decision-making authority in the area of
equipment interchange. Members must
have three to five years' experience involving such matters as gate interchanges,
yard procedures and the operations of
marine and rail container yards. Members
must be affiliated with a respective modal
association and be recognized as an
expert leader within their modal segment.
The IIEC typically meets face-to-face three
times a year and also conducts business
via conference call when necessary.
UIIA participants interested in learning
more about the IIEC or serving on the
committee should contact Assistant Vice
President Debbie Sasko at IANA.

http://www.uiia.org/assets/documents/newuiia-home.pdf http://www.uiia.org/assets/documents/newuiia-home.pdf

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Insights - July/August 2017